Missile strikes video does not show recent attack on Dubai

An old video of missile strikes is recirculating online with false claims it shows a recent attack on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

It is true that the Palm Jumeirah area suffered damage over the weekend following strikes launched by Iran in retaliation against the US and Israel’s ongoing attack on the country, which killed its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But the video being shared online is not recent and wasn’t filmed in Dubai. The earliest version we could find was published in October 2024, when it was shared with claims it showed Iran launching missiles at Israel.

While we haven’t been able to independently verify where or when the footage was taken, we know it’s over a year old, and predates these latest strikes in the Gulf.

You can read more of our fact checks about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East here. During developing news events it’s important to rely on sources that are trustworthy and verifiable before sharing content which you see on social media. Our toolkit has tips on how to do this.